OlderJennifer Lopez is a California Woman
Jennifer Lopez gives her speech at the 2008 Women’s Conference at the Long Beach Convention Center in Calif., on Wednesday.
Watch J.Lo’s inspiring speech here.
The Women’s Conference is headed by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and First Lady Maria Shriver, creating a network of women professionals from all walks of life.
Warren Buffett, Bono, Jamie Lee Curtis,Condoleeza Rice and sixty internationally-acclaimed leaders and visionaries spoke to 14,000 women in one arena. Heidi Klum also attended the event and is pictured below.
Read Jennifer Lopez’s speech inside…
JENNIFER LOPEZ SPEECH
Good morning. Are we truly present? I was really honored to come here and speak to you because I get to stand here not as an entertainer, but as a girl who grew up in the Bronx w/two sisters and a strong and loving mom. I stand before you as someone who loves being a woman. I love that when life hands us our greatest challenges, we look up and realize that capacity. I love the fellowship we’re sharing here today.
I hope you leave here today believing you are the leader you’ve been searching for.
I realized early in my own journey that I had to be my own champion. Nobody told me to do what I did - most told me NOT to do it. But I was lucky enough to have a strong feeling inside that I should listen to my gut and it would guide me. When I didn’t listen is when I had my biggest mishaps.
Certain relationships make you doubt who you are and what you’re capable of and what you deserve. Took me some time to get it right in that arena. That’s why I’m telling you you have to listen to that voice. In one of my lowest moments, when you don’t have a grasp of who you are or where you’re going, when you feel the world is questioning you and you are questioning yourself. I prayed for guidance, for strength, a message, something. I picked up my Bible and the passage said be happy for your trials and tribulations because you test your faith. Perseverance. We’ll come back to that.
Many of us know what it is to be first time mothers. So as you know, there is nothing that inspires you more to be an architect of good change than giving birth to a baby - or two. You cannot imagine how it will effect and change you. It makes you understand and sympathize with every mother and every other child. YOu become more aware of the world around you. Everything in your power to make the world better - you want to do. That is the miracle of being a mother.
My dream is to launch a foundation to help the well being of all women. I decided after a lot of talks with my sister, Linda, when the time was right we would create an organization that would empower women and children. Empowering them to have their voices heard, to have the type of schools they deserve, the healthcare they deserve. Empowering them to demand change. Nothing more empowering than the love of a woman, a mother, a grandmother, a wife. Every single one of us deserves the best life has to offer.
That’s why when I was at the Democratic National Convention talking to Marian Wright Edelman, we talked about this.
My foundation will prioritize the importance of empowerment. I have lots of big dreams and envision big changes toward proper healthcare, prenatal care, pediatric care. And that, coming together in the biggest possible way is what I believe women are capable of.
Don’t ever doubt that you can accomplish more than you thought you ever could.
Don’t ever doubt that we can master those moments. You have amazing capacity. What are YOU doing to be an architect of change? It takes perseverance, so when everyone is telling you otherwise, you need to look inside yourself and be your own leader and empower yourself and others to do the same.
Let’s challenge ourselves to lead by example and claim our legacies. Nothing worthwhile is easy. It is hard to achieve what is great. Let’s do what’s hard. Let’s achieve what is great.
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Jennifer LOPEZ is a MEXICAN!
There’s something about JLo’s face now, she’s just not as pretty anymore. Since her pregnancy her face looks rough. Not sure if it’s her makeup or what. Her hairline is really high and disapearring too (maybe why she often wear wigs). Maybe just me but JLo is not looking so good anymore, not aging well at all, she’s not as cute as she was when she first came on the scene.
Plus, I don’t find her real or inspiring at all as woman, she seems selfish, me-me-me. And she gives back very little to charity. She gives a wee bit of time (and that’s only lately, she never seemed to before), but gives no $ it seems.
She is not looking very good these days.
Jennifer is not Mexican. She was born in Brroklyn, New York. She is an American.
Sorry, it is Brooklyn.
First of all you’re both WRONG! She was born in the BRONX and is of Puerto Rican descent. What is wrong with you people..what if she was Mexican? Does that make her any less or more of a person? We are in 2008..get over it and why don’t you educate yourself beyond what school teaches you. Mexicans have been in this country for way longer than you think and they deserve to be here just like you and any of your ancestors. Unless you are Native American you have no more rights than anyone else to claim this as YOUR country.
As far as her giving back I agree that she has not given as much as she could/should have. I was at a graduation at her old elementary school a few years ago and all of these former students had given $ towards scholaships for the children graduating. Most were just regular people, with common jobs that just wanted to give back and all I could think of was how unfortunate it was that a major celebrity not only attended that school but who’s mother taught there had not given atleast a few thousand dollars towards a child’s education.
oh please…the only reason this idiot is doing this to get some publicity. yeah we all know how strong she is that’s why she starts a relationships before she ends one…yeah she is a really good role model. and now she is talking about her past relationships…why not? no one gives a rat ass about her anymore. she had to settle down with the skeletor cuz no one wanted her ass anymore. please go away and don’t ruin other women’s self esteem. and that speech of hers makes me wanna throw up and amazingly how she talks about her foundation to help others. i am surprised she didn’t talk about the crappy marathon she did and raised crappy money for the charity (which she mentions in every conversation) and turned around and had a $800,000 birthday bash for the skeletor who looks very misrable in each picture just the way ben afleck used to look like (being fed up of the big ass *****). it is sad that just because someone has few millions all of a sudden they are role models. this world is a joke.
Jennifer is not that cute anymore, her looks have slided and no amount of surgery will make her as pretty as she used to be. Plus I agree, she gives nowhere near the amount of money she could give, only recently has she started doing any charity and that is purely for publicity, she knows her star has faded and she’s desperate to get her star power back. Even with her triathlon, she raised the money, she didn’t give any of her own!! She could have doubled the amount raised with her own money, but no of course she didn’t. And she kept the money from her baby pics (they are no Brangelina in that regard). Guess she’s keeping all her money to buy more chandeliers for her kids’ rooms (ridiculous) or to throw her hubby another over-the top party.
Put a fork in her, she’s done as far as I’m concerned, I have to respect for her. Jenny from the Block she ain’t.
#1..
so what if she is of Mexican descent or whatever?
Most of us born and living in the US are from somewhere. The only true “Americans” are the Native Americans (Indians) here.
I agree with #6.
I am “American” from English and Dannish descent.
I don’t really care too much about Jennifer Lopez. Not a good role model for sure,
Woah, Jenny from the Block lookin’ more like Jenny been ’round the block! I used to think she was hot back in the day, but no more.
She’s not nearly as attractive as she still seems to think she is.
I don’t give a toss what nationality this silly woman is, but being PR and from Da Bronx (that’s how we say it), she’s all PR AND American. Puerto Rican’s are Americans the minute we’re born — PERIOD!!!
Wish she’d go away!!!!!!!
Beautiful speech ! love her !
Stop the Hate. all the hater that said that she is ugly is because they don’t have nothing better to said about her. at least she doing something with her life. =)
Oh Please!! She’s always talking about some charity she’s involved in, but she only mentions it when the cameras are on her and she can pose for pictures, but that’s where it ends because she never mentions that charity again. Sure she went to the DNC and posed for pictures with Marian Wright Edelman as if she’s so involved in that cause, but that was strictly for her own SELF-promotion just like that triathlon which was a way for her to loose weight and get free publicity at the same time.
She’ll do anything for publicity. Just like that cheap publicity stunt when she married that gross husband of hers again in Vegas and immediately told People magazine so they would publish it just to keep her name out there. She’s a fake!
Jwho? Her speech is not inspiring in the least. She has a way that brings anything she says or does right back to being about herself. Selfish and full of herself. She used to have her looks at least (never though much of her acting or singing). But now she has a fivehead and baggy eyes, her cuteness left her long ago. Now if only she would disapear entirely don’t think many would miss her. Her last 2 albums tanked as did her last 2 movies, so she obviously no longer has a big fan base.
One thing is for sure.. them Jennifers love all the attention they can get, be it Garner, Lopez or Aniston.. But this one does not whine and has some reason to fame unlike the others.. Good for her that she has found her bearings and the foundation.. whatever help is offered to women should be appreciated.
Warren Buffett was there and Condeleeza Rice .. But nothing about their speeches.. wow … Lets see now Two of Jlo’s movies tanked at the box office.. her C.D did alright.. and her what was the name of
her charity.. Since her sister was involved and her sister just gave
birth…and there is no publicity of the name or anything else/..
Why does she get all the attention when you have Condelezza Rice
What help has she done.. You don’t hear Jen Aniston or Jen Garner
talk about themselves…The KEY WORD HERE IS I HAVE A DREAM
TO START A FOUNDATION.. SHE DOESN’T HAVE ONE YET!
Take a look at yourself and what you are doing to improve this world for women, before talking about others. What have you done Sorella….nothing, just what I thought. The same goes for all those stupid critics who don’t do anything either. It is time women stand up for women and help each other out instead of wasting time criticizing our own.
Wow, I still think she looks great, but what’s with whining about past relationships? If you’re in a bad one, get out. No need to broadcast (after having been dumped by both Diddy and Ben) that it didn’t work becasue they were mean to you, put you down, whatever. Don’t revise your own history, JLo.
JARED—HUH???? Inspiring speech???? OK, it would be… if she was talking about her BLINGS or her ****… :lol: :lol: :lol: Give me a freaking break…what a loser..
This part of her speech….give me a break…
“Many of us know…..blah blah….YOu become more aware of the world around you. Everything in your power to make the world better - you want to do. That is the miracle of being a mother”.
Uh, no Jennifer, that is miracle of being a HUMAN and GIVING BACK TO OTHERS. You don’t need to become a mother to do that, you should have cared about others regardless of being a mother! But guess that would mean you would have to care about others before YOUSELF. What a concept eh JLO. You did a triathalon and RAISED money for others (without matching the amount with your own) but you threw a $800,000 party for Mark…hmm… guess that’s what you mean by “making the world better” . Yeah, always what’s better for Jlo and publicity, not for others.
And before anybody says what do I do, well I don’t just give speeches and talk the talk like the does, I walk the walk when it comes to helping others.
Yes, tobey, easier said than done. For me she is a role model and such a inspiring woman. All the celebrities have a high-class way of life, all of them spend a lot of money( money that probably we´re never going to see)in beauty treatments,clothes,mansions and this type of things totally selfish. But not. Only jennifer is the major selfish and trash and all those beautiful things those people use to hurl. Probably Eva Longoria spends 30$ monthly in her hair. Probably Beyoncé wears supermarket clothes. When Angelina Jolie has a retinue and mansions and personal make up artists ad trainers, hey,she is very natural,like me or you. Ok people,you are very hypocrite. It seems like people doesn´t like that jennifer come from a poor family,and only with her work , dancing in many places and having a lot of sucess,she reached this status. It´s like, you´re from the bronx, how do you dare to have this way of life,this fame??Tipical racism and pure envy. She is very involved and gives a lot of money for the childrens hospital Los Angeles,and she received a big ovation yesterday,so the world’s full of envious people .
Ah! and of course she looks gorgeous as always
that was a nice speech!
Shannon,and what if she gives her husband a 800.000 party ??What´s the problem??First, how do you know she paid 800.000??Because I´m lookin for the information and I don´t found anything.
Second, if you had the money, don´t you use your money to get what you want,for example, to give someone you love the perfect party??HYPOCRITE
Third, what is the relation between the benefic triathlon to raise money and spend your money(earned with your work)in wherever you want?Perhaps jennifer have to spend her money in what you want??Who are you?
And four, All the celebrities goes to benefit parties and events all the time, sometimes probably cost more the organization than the money raised, and then they come back to their luxury life,and nobody says anything
Gee some people on this site are utterly ridiculous. Jennifer Lopez has finally come into her own. No matter how much people want to trash her, people like Maria Shriver respects her enough to invite her to her event. This was by invitation only and Jlo merited that invitation. She has matured alot and her priorities have changed since the Jenny from the block days. Every woman matures look at Angelina Jolie she was a horrible person and has rehabilitated herself into a “mother theresa” according to some people…if she could rehabilitate herself anyone can. So for those Jlo haters, Jlo has found a cause greater than herself so that is something that you don’t understand. Maybe one day when you come into your own you will!!!!
Jlo’s speech was awesome and the women in that audience were touched…..
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